Charl Schwartzel of South Africa holds up the trophy as he poses for the media after he won the inaugural LIV Golf Invitational at the Centurion Club in St Albans, England on June 11, 2022. (ALASTAIR GRANT / AP)

ST ALBANS - South Africa's Charl Schwartzel held off compatriot Hennie Du Plessis to claim the biggest pay cheque in golf history at the opening event of the LIV Invitational Series on Saturday.

Charl Schwartzel, whose previous highest pay cheque was the $1.4 million he scooped for winning the 2011 Masters, ended up on seven-under with Hennie Du Plessis finishing one stroke back. Another South African, Branden Grace, finished third on five under

The 37-year-old led by three strokes going into the third and final round at the Centurion course north of London, and consolidated with a round of 72 to seal the $4 million prize.

Schwartzel, whose previous highest pay cheque was the $1.4 million he scooped for winning the 2011 Masters, ended up on seven-under with Du Plessis finishing one stroke back. Another South African, Branden Grace, finished third on five under.

All three were playing for the Stingers team who easily won the team element of the new series.

"You know, it's a relief," Schwartzel, who also picked up an added $750,000 for being part of the winning team, said.

"I had it in my hands but I made it a bit more difficult than it should have been. Never in my wildest dreams did I ever think we could play for that much money in golf."

Schwartzel's victory ended a tumultuous launch week for the breakaway circuit which is backed to the tune of $250 million by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF).

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Organizers will point to decent-sized crowds, plenty of glitz and the presence of big names including six-time major champion Phil Mickelson, Dustin Johnson and Sergio Garcia.

But the first of eight events has been as much about a developing power struggle off the course and accusations of Saudi 'sportswashing' and greed as the action on it.

Charl Schwartzel of South Africa plays from a tee during the final round of the inaugural LIV Golf Invitational at the Centurion Club in St. Albans, England on June 11, 2022. (ALASTAIR GRANT / AP)

"All I can say is that the evolution of golf has arrived," LIV Golf CEO Greg Norman, who tried to set up a new world tour in the 1990s, said at the presentation ceremony.

"For 27 years there have been a lot of obstacles put in our path, a lot of dreams have tried to be squashed but they couldn't squash us."

Charl Schwartzel's victory ended a tumultuous launch week for the breakaway circuit which is backed to the tune of $250 million by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF)

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On Thursday the PGA Tour announced it had suspended players taking part in the LIV series - a move LIV organizers described as vindictive and which could lead to a legal battle. read more

The PGA suspension and the prospect of being ineligible for the Ryder Cup has not stopped more players turning their back on the PGA Tour with big-hitting major champion Bryson DeChambeau joining the party on Friday read more and fellow American Patrick Reed read more following suit on Saturday.

Both will make their debuts at the second event of the series in Portland, Oregon later this month.

READ MORE: Tiger Woods makes cut at Players thanks to Spieth, Thomas

"I'm super excited," the 31-year-old Reed told the streamed coverage of the final day on YouTube which attracted 100,000 viewers at its peak.

"Being part of the evolution and change in golf is unbelievable. Portland can't get here soon enough."